Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i7-8700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i7-8700K tests and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, video editing, rendering, streaming. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like RealBench, Furmark, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, PCMark 10, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, Prime95, AIDA64, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, Blender, SuperPi, Blender, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch
Last Man Standing
Valorant
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Halo Infinite
Fortnite
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Valheim
Fallout 76
Apex Legends
DOOM: Eternal
Rainbow Six Siege
Borderlands 3
Red Dead Redemption 2
Death Stranding
Watch Dogs Legion
Cyberpunk 2077
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-8700K or Intel Core i9-7940X.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-7940X

58%

Core i7-8700K

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7940X is 6% better than Core i7-8700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7940X

58%

Core i7-8700K

54%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.4	95.7
Valorant	117.5	108.7
Cyberpunk 2077	65.8	60.9
Apex Legends	110.5	102.2
Call of Duty Warzone	88.2	81.6
Overwatch	95.2	88.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.1	75.0
DOOM Eternal	58.8	54.4
Warzone	91.7	84.8
Assassin's Creed	98.7	91.3
Valheim	97.6	90.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-7940X

25%

Core i7-8700K

49%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-8700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7940X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-8700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	188	208
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2849	1447
Cinbench 20 Single-core	607	487
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5465	3689
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1578	1209
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	15728	8960

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-8700K
Single-Core	2533	2760
Multi-Core	26889	13949

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-8700K
Single-Core	1263	1402
Multi-Core	15127	7536

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-8700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	October 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Skylake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	8
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	14	6
Threads	28	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography		14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	3200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-8700K is 16% better than Core i9-7940X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7940X has 8 more core than Core i7-8700K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7940X is better: 24
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-8700K is better: 8
However, it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-7940X and Intel Core i7-8700K before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7940X specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-8700K specs and review.